Lantern



. April 3, 1928.

G. E. ALLEN LANTERN Filed Aug. 24, 1926 Patented Apr. '3, 1928.

UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. ALLEN, or BU FALO; NEW 'YORK.

- LANTERN.

Application filed August 24,1926. Serial No. 131,250.

This invention relates to lanterns of the type illuminated by an electrically energlzed bulb, and one object of the invention is to provide a lantern. from which lightmay be projected in opposite directions.

, Another object of the invention is to provide reflectors so constructed that they will project light from a bulb over alarge area.

Another object of the invention is to so arrange the reflectors in the casing that they may serve to hold transparent closures for open sides of the casing in proper position.

Another obj set of the invention is to permit each reflector to retain the other in proper engagement with its cooperating transparency and to unite them so that they may be inserted or withdrawn from the cas ing as a unit. p 7

Another object of the invention is to firmly hold the reflectors in proper position in the Another object of the invention is to pro-:'

vide improved means for suspending the lantern from an overhead support. V y I Another object of the invention 1S to so i it construct the suspending means that it will be held in firm gripping engagement with an overhead support by the weight ofthe lantern.

panying drawings, wherein,-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of theimwalls at an outwardly incline and are so loproved lantern suspended from a'support.

Figure 2 is I a :vertical sectional View. through the lantern, taken along the l ne 22 of Figure 3.

Figure 3 is vertical sectional view taken through the lantern along the line 33 of Figure 2, and p Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of a modified form'of the lantern. The lantern constituting the subject matter of this invention includes a casing preferably formed of sheet metal and having bottom 1 and opposed side walls 2 extending upwardly therefrom. The upper portions of the side walls are'folded inwardly,"

as shown at 3110 provide smooth and reinforced upper edge portions and threaded openings 1 arej formed; in these reinforced The invention is illustrated in the accom-t portions to receivev securing screws 5 by.

means ofwhich' the cover or top 6 of the casing is removably held in place. At its front and rear thecasing is open and po'r tions of the side walls are severed from the bottom to form detached portions whichare folded inwardly to provide lower and side flanges 7 and 8.. The end portions of the flanges 7 overlap the lower ends of the flanges Sand are soldered or otherwise firmly secured thereto. These flanges constitute abutments for engaging transparencies 9 which preferablyconsist of clear glassjand constitute transparent closures for the. open front and'backof thecasingh I Y ReflectorslO fit into the casing and each includes a central portion 11; side walls 12 and upper and lower walls 13 and 14. The

walls and central portions of the reflectors are flat and the walls extend indiverging relation to each other and in flaring relation to the central portion, as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3. At their outer ends the walls of the reflectors are folded inwardly to provide flangesflS constituting abutments adapted to engage the inner surfaces of the transparencies 9yand retain them in close contacting engagement with the flanges. 7 and 8 of the casing. The central portions 11 contact with eachother and are firmly secured bysolder, or any other suitable fastening means. The outer surfaces of the reflectors are painted a dead white in order to very efliciently reflect light rays from the.

bulbs 16, mounted in socketsl? which are firmly secured in openings formed in the upper Walls 13. It'should benoted that the bulbs project downwardly from the upper cated-with respect to the central portions and wallsthat the light "rays may be ,pro-

jected outwardly by the central portions 11 ofthe reflectors, upwardly and downwardly Therefore, a large area may be illuminated when thelantern is in operation. The usual wires 18' lead fromthe sockets 17 and are passed outwardly through'an eye 19 in one of theside walls 2 forconnection with a suitable source of electric energy. In order to retain the refleotors'in place and brace the side] walls of the lantern there has been provided rods 20 which pass transversely through the casing above and below'the attached central portions of the reflectors. These rods are tionsdiverging through openings formed in the upper por-' tions of the side walls 2: of the casin Knots 30 are formed upon the free ends of formed with threaded end portions; passed through openings formed in the side walls 2 and carrying securing nuts'21 and 22 which, when properly tightened will firmly grip the walls of the casin Reinforcing strips 23 are secured against the inner faces of the side walls 2 across the portions through which the rods 20 pass .so that these portions of the side wallswill'not be unduly weakened and to also permit the securing nuts to be tightened without danger of rupturing the walls.

The lantern may be set or mounted upon a stationary support if so desired but it is preferred to .have it suspended from an overhead support, such as a wooden beam shown in Figure 1 and indicated by the numeral 24. In order to suspend the lantern from the overhead support, there has been provided a grapple consisting of pivotally connectedjaws 25. These jaws at their upper ends, are formed with inwardly extending prongs 2G and have their lower end portions constituting handles 27 which terminate in eyes-28. Flexible elements 29 which may consist of strong cord, flexible wire, or

light chain are passed through the eyes 28 and have their end portions extending downwardly therefron'l. The flexible suspending elements are disposed in crossed relation to each other, as clearly shown in Figure 1 and have their depending end porand passed the cords to prevent them from being drawn outwardly through the openmgs and eyes 31 are preferably mounted inthe openings through which the cords pass, so that the cords will not be liable to be severed by sharp edges'about the openings. From an inspection of Figure 1, 'it will be readily seen that when the lantern is to be suspended the jaws of the grapple are opened and engaged with opposite sides of the support 24. The weight of the lantern causes the grapple to be firmly held in engagement withthe support. When it is desired to re-' move the lantern it is merely necessary to lift the lantern and swing the handle portions of the grapple away from each other,

to move its jaws out of gripping engage 'ment with the support.

In Figured, there has been shown a slightly modified form of the invention. In this form the grapple and flexible elements 29' are omitted and the cover 6 carries a handle 32 provided with a hand grip 33. A' bracket 34- provided with hooks 35 is secured to the beam 24 or other suitable support and the lantern is suspended from the bracket by engaging thehand grip with the hooks. The handle is grasped about its grip 33 when carried from one place to another.

inwardly of the casing, reflectors in said casing having contacting intermediate portions and portions J diverging therefrom and engage ing said transparencies, bracing means for the side walls of the casing extending be-' tween diverging portions of the reflectorsabove and below their contacting internie j diate portions and engaging the adjacent-1 inner ends of their diverging portions to retain the reflectors in place, and means for supporting illuminating--means 1n the casing between the reflectors and t ansparenc-ies.

'2. A lantern comprising a casing-open at opposite sides and having opposed side walls, transparencies closing" the open sides of the casing, refiectos in said casing engaging said transparencies to support the transparencies, upright, rods passed through the casing above and belowuportions of the reflectors to brace the side walls of the casing and retain the reflectors in place, a removable cover for the open upper end'of the casing-retaining the transparencies in place, and-means forsupporting illun'linating elements in the casing between the reflectors and transparencies.

A' lantern comprising a casing open at its top and at one side, a transparency closing the open side of said casingand removable through its top, a. removable cover for the open top of said casing retaining the transparency inplace, a reflector in saidcasing facing its open side and having walls engaging said transparency, and means to support illuminatingmeans in the casing between the reflector and transparency. 7

4. A lantern comprising a casing open at its top and at its front and back and having a bottom and opposed side wal'ls,'flanges extending from the bottom and side walls in overly-ing relation to the open front and back of the casing, transparencies in said casing fitted against said flanges and closing, a removable cover for the open upper end of said casing retainingfsaid trans-I.

parenciesin place, and illuminating elements in the casing between the reflectors and transparencies.

In testimony whereo ture. I i i f I affix my signa GEORGE E. ALLEN. m1 

